Morning News Briefs: Thursday, March 9, 2017

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Bill Would Stop Prosecuting 16-, 17-Year-Olds In Adult Court

North Carolina is one of just two states where 16- and 17-year-olds are automatically prosecuted in adult court, but that could soon change.

Momentum is growing for legislation to handle most of those North Carolina teens in juvenile court.

Bipartisan legislation was announced Wednesday to end the automatic adult prosecution of 16- and 17-year-olds accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies.

Supporters say it would prevent young people from being branded for life with adult convictions for misdeeds that stem from youthful immaturity.

The other state that automatically prosecutes teens as adults is New York.

Bill For Partisan Court Elections Gets Final OK

The North Carolina General Assembly has given final approval to Republican legislation that would make elections for local court judgeships officially partisan races again.

The House agreed Wednesday to slight changes made by the Senate to the measure, which is similar to a state law approved quickly in December that restored partisan races for the state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

The new bill now goes to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who could issue his first veto on the measure. Cooper said Tuesday he has "real concerns about throwing judicial elections back to the partisan arena."

More Cooper Cabinet Secretaries Getting Asked To Appear

There's been no ruling by a judicial panel whether a new North Carolina law subjecting Roy Cooper's Cabinet to state Senate confirmation is constitutional. So senators are moving ahead with calling more of Cooper's department heads to testify.

A Senate committee agreed Wednesday to issue a subpoena for Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon to appear before the panel next week. Another committee slated to meet Thursday will consider possible subpoenas for Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Susi Hamilton and for Michael Regan, leading the Department of Environmental Quality.

A three-judge panel heard arguments Tuesday from lawyers for Cooper and legislative leaders about whether the confirmation law approved in December should be allowed to stand or thrown out.

Transgender Student Wants Court Ruling Before Graduation

Attorneys for a transgender teenager in Virginia who's suing his school board for the right to use the boys bathroom are asking that arguments be expedited so he might see a ruling before he graduates.

The filing Wednesday in Gavin Grimm's case comes two days after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order handing the case back to a Richmond appeals court without reaching a decision.

The motion asks the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to hear arguments in May to facilitate a ruling before Grimm graduates June 10. It says a ruling would allow him to attend his graduation "with the dignity of being able to use the same restroom facilities" as his peers.

Report: Hula Bowl Revival In NC Unlikely To Happen

It doesn't appear the Hula Bowl will be revived in North Carolina after all.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports correspondence obtained through a public-records request shows the college football all-star game is unlikely to come to Raleigh. The newspaper said the drive to bring the game last played in 2008 to North Carolina State's Carter-Finley Stadium was tied to Republican Gov. Pat McCrory's re-election bid.

McCrory touted the game after the state lost the NBA all-star game as well as NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference championship events following passage of legislation limiting protections for the LGBT community. McCrory lost the November election to Roy Cooper.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.